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Summary

Strychnos potatorum or Clearing Nut Tree is a deciduous tree reaching a height of up to 12 m upon maturity. It is well-branched, with bole growing up to 100 cm in diameter. It is highly tolerant to drought when fully grown. The bark is pale gray. The leaves are glossy, green, oval and thin. The flowers are white to yellow green and occur in clusters. The fruits are round, smooth, and softly fleshy. Crushed fruits and bark are both used as fish poison. Young fruits are occasionally consumed as food. Medicinally, the leaves are used in the treatment of epilepsy and eye pain. The roots are aphrodisiac and used against cold and venereal diseases. Root and leaf decoction is used for coughs. The seeds have a wide range of medicinal treatment against liver and kidney problems, stomach problems, gonorrhea, leucorrhea, bronchitis, chronic diarrhea, diabetes, and many others. The wood is not suitable for carving but is ideal for carts, shafts, agricultural implements, tool handles, etc.

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Physical Characteristics

Strychnos potatorum is a deciduous Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Synonyms

Strychnos stuhlmannii Gilg

Habitats

Edible Uses

Young fruits - occasionally eaten or made into preserves[2 , 146 , 301 ]. The pulp is eaten[652 ]. They are an ingredient of 'Raja's Cup', an Ayurvedic coffee substitute[301 ]. The fruit is a sub-globose berry 12 - 18mm in diameter with a firm pericarp, black when ripe, containing 1 - 2 seeds in a whitish pulp[652 ].

Medicinal Uses

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The pounded leaves are used to treat watering and aching eyes[299 ]. A decoction is taken to treat epilepsy[299 ] The roots are aphrodisiac[299 ]. The vapour of a root decoction is inhaled to treat colds and venereal diseases[299 ]. A decoction of the roots and leaves is taken to treat cough[299 ]. The seeds are used for the treatment of a range of complaints including those affecting the liver, kidneys and stomach; gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, bronchitis, chronic diarrhoea, strangury, kidney and bladder stones, diabetes and eye diseases[299 ]. The plant contains many monomeric and dimeric indole alkaloids, the root bark being especially rich. The monoterpene alkaloid cantleyine, isolated from the root bark, has shown a relaxing effect on isolated tracheal smooth muscles and may be the active ingredient responsible for the anti-cough and anti-asthmatic activity[299 ]. Normacusine B, a monomeric alkaloid of the corynanthe class, also found in Rauvolfia, Tabernaemontana and Vinca spp., is sympatholytic and its hypotensive activity is stronger than that of reserpine, which is commonly used against high blood pressure[299 ]. The total alkaloid extracts of the seeds, bark and leaves showed strychnine-like activity in vivo, had marked hypotensive effect and exhibited a depressant action on isolated heart muscle[299 ]. In-vivo tests using the seed powder and an aqueous extract of the seeds prevented ulcer formation by decreasing acid secretory activity and increasing the mucin activity[299 ]. An aqueous extract of the seeds has shown significant hepatoprotective activity[299 ]. A methanol extract of the seeds had a diuretic effect and an antidiarrhoeal activity on castor oil-induced diarrhoea[299 ].

Other Uses

Other Uses: The cut seeds are rubbed around the insides of a rough earthenware vessel and water is then placed in the vessel. This causes most of the impurities in the water to sink to the bottom after a while so that the clean(er!) water can be poured off[2 , 63 ]. The seeds contain polyelectrolytes which can be used as coagulants to clarify turbid waters[299 ]. In laboratory tests, direct filtration of turbid surface water with the seeds as a coagulant, produced a substantial improvement in its aesthetic and microbiological quality[299 ]. The yellowish-grey wood has conspicuous white markings. It is close-grained, very hard and termite resistant, but splits easily and is therefore not suitable for carving[299 , 652 ]. It is used to make carts, shafts, agricultural implements, tool handles etc[299 , 652 ].

Cultivation details

A shade-bearing tree, growing up well under the canopy of deciduous forest[652 ]. Established trees are very drought tolerant[652 ]. The plant produces root suckers[652 ].

Propagation

Seed - the seedling quickly produces a soft, delicate taproot so the seed should be sown in deep, individual containers or in situ[652 ]. Cuttings of half ripe wood[200 ]. Root suckers.

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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